VOCABULARY SHIFT: Prepositions English avoids consecutive repetition of the same preposition. Luckily, more than one preposition can typically provide the same meaning. Poor: As a result of a previous phase of the analysis of the different solutions, numerous changes had to made to the prototype before it could be tested. Better: Due to a previous phase in the analysis of the different solutions, numerous changes had to made to the prototype before it could be tested.   Many prepositions used in everyday spoken English tend to sound less appropriate for academic writing. Some of the most common formal alternatives are listed below. Informal   Formal (written) about (jstk.) concerning, on, regarding after subsequent to before prior to in within on top of above, over during (the last 5 years) over

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